Interactions of Teen Parents and Trained Caregivers with Young Children.

Carlson, Helen L.

To extend research on adult/child interactions, attitudes and behaviors of teenage parents and trained "educarers" were compared, and the relationship between adults' and children's interactive styles was investigated. Two groups of questions were addressed: (1) Are there significant statistical differences as well as qualitative descriptive differences between teenage parents and trained educarers in ratings of their ideal images of children, in ratings of temperament, or in interactions with children? (2) Regardless of membership in one or the other adult group, do significant relationships exist between adults' and children's interactive styles? and, Which interactional patterns are positive in terms of facilitating development? Participants were 15 teenage parent/child dyads and 12 trained primary-care educarer/child dyads. The average age of the teenage parents was almost 17; that of caregivers was nearly 26. Educarers had been previously trained in the philosophy of Magda Gerber; teen parents had received earlier counseling and information about child development and parenting skills. Findings revealed that, while similar temperament ratings between groups existed, groups differed in interaction styles. Additionally, adult and child interactive styles were significantly related; sensitive caregiver styles were related to cooperative child styles. (Appended are toddler temperament scale/profile sheets for 1- and 2-year-old children and coding devices for adult and child interaction.) (RH)